5 Local Brews for Summer

The lazy days of summer find us swinging in hammocks, wielding tongs over a sizzling grill and otherwise making the most of hot days and starlit nights. Few things pair better with this sometimes sweltering season than a cold beer, and our local breweries have some exceptional offerings this year to make our picnics, barbecues and beach trips really stand out.

Tail Ale

Perfect for summer events and cookouts, Tail Ale from Allentown’s HiJinx Brewing Company is a moderately hopped session ale brewed exclusively with the Comet hop variety. The mild malt flavors and the subtle hint of citrus fruits from the hops make Tail Ale both refreshing and satisfying. The broad appeal of this very drinkable ale means you don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to appreciate it—it’ll be flying out of the cooler at the family reunion.

Grill up the bold flavors of Jamaican jerk to pair with this. The light citrus notes from the Comet

hops enhance the Caribbean flavors, while the soft malt character and low bitterness help to

Saison D’être

Yergey Brewing

Yergey Brewing in Emmaus shares space with the distillery Triple Sun Spirits, and though it hasn’t even been open a year yet, it’s already got a lot going on. For a light and effervescent summer brew, Saison D’être offers mild floral hop notes, and the yeast lends hints of spice and black pepper.

The saison style originated as a summer beer, traditionally brewed in Belgium and France to quench the thirst of farm workers. In that tradition, Saison D’être is a drinkable beer that doesn’t lack flavor or complexity, making it great to pair with the smoky, char-grilled flavors of the grill.

The light body and complexity from the yeast character allow this beer to harmonize with a light meal of grilled fish or chicken, but it can still stand up to spicy sausage or seared steak.

German Hop Air Balloon

Lost Tavern Brewing, LLC

The globetrotting Hop Air Balloon series of pale ales and IPAs by Lost Tavern Brewing in Hellertown adds its fourth version this summer. The balloon travels to different hop regions of the world, alighting now in Germany. The floral and spice notes that are expected from German hops are definitely there, along with some citrus flavors like tangerine and mandarin orange.

A great companion for plenty of summer fare, this beer is refreshing and pairs well with grilled fish, chicken or pork, as well as fresh salads.

Brett Saison

Fegley’s Brew Works

Always dependable for a good burger and a good brew, Fegley’s Brew Works is unleashing a new saison this summer that’s been aged to perfection. Their house-cultivated Brettanomyces wild yeast strain yields a slightly tart beer, not puckering but a nice kind of pineapple sour. In fact, the characteristics of pineapple and mango are conjured with this yeast’s tropical fruit flair.

Saisons are typically associated with wild fermentation and not a lot of hops, but this one has a touch more hops to it, and looks and drinks light.

For a summer dinner of seafood, the Brett Saison is an excellent choice. The tartness pairs beautifully with any light, white flaky fish or scallops, accenting as well as complementing the dish.

Safari Sunset

Hop Hill Brewing Company

In the Lower Saucon area of Bethlehem, Hop Hill has created a New England-style IPA jam-packed with citrus and tropical character. Sippin’ Safari’s hazy appearance is typical for this style, and is a by-product of the massive whirlpool and dry hop additions of Mosaic, Citra and Azacca hops. Flaked oats contribute to a smooth and silky mouth-feel.

The version to look for this summer, Safari Sunset, is fermented with blood oranges. Its name is a reference to the gorgeous reddish-orange hue created by the addition of the fruit.

It pairs well with spicy Thai dishes like green curry and tom yum soup, where lemongrass complements the beer’s citrus and grapefruit flavors, and the spice and hop character play off of each other very well.